Module: Field crops

Lecturer

Paolo Benincasa

Type

Specific formative activities

Area

DISCIPLINE DELLA PRODUZIONE VEGETALE

Sector

AGR/02

ECTS

6

Implementation procedures

Conventional

Course content

The aim of the course is to provide students with specific knowledge on arable field crops. In particular students will be provided with: knowledge on arable cropping systems, plant species and production chains; knowledge on economic importance and diffusion of arable crops; knowledge on the implications that agricultural techniques may have on the agro-ecosystem; agronomical and technological abilities on the arable crop cultivation. Moreover students will be educated at identifying the main cultivated species.

Lectures (45 hours) A description will be given on the general traits of the main groups of crops (food, industrial and forage crops). For each group, some species will be described in detail, taking into consideration the most cultivated on the national and global scale and meaningful from a teaching point of view (case studies). The description of these species will concern: morphology, phylogenesis, biology, soil and climate needs, eco-physiology, abiotic and biotic disease, objectives and perspectives of breeding, cultivation technique (rotation, tillage, fertilization, choice of cultivar, sowing, weed control, irrigation and other operations, harvest). In particular, for any species evidence will be given to the main issues and weak points of cultivation and to the interactions between the choice of cultivar, the cultivation technique, the yield and quality. Moreover the description of any species will also consider the possible modifications on the cultivation technique related to the cropping system (conventional, organic) and to the several utilization of the product: human or livestock feeding, direct utilization or after industrial processing, non-food crops (biomass, biofuel, lubricants), seed crops, green manure crops, phyto-remediation, etc. For this reason, some information will be given also for "minor" species that could be usefully introduced in the usual arable cropping systems.

Practical tasks (15 hours) - identification of seeds and plants of species - Solving of practical cases concerning arable crops - Observation on crops under way and cultivation operations

Prerequisite: Agronomy

Supplement

Description of the most widespread and meaningful species of arable crops (cereals, legumes, oil crops, industrial crops, forages) with regard to morphology, biology and eco-physiology; cultivation techniques as related to cultivar, yield and quality; objectives and perspectives of breeding

Mode of delivery

Lectures 45 Practice in the classroom 6Pactice in the field 9

Means to help teaching and learning Overheads, slides and videos Technical and scientific papers Books Drafts Seeds and plants of around 50 plant species

Learning Study on reference books Reading of technical and scientific papers Practicing for technical abilities Practicing for professional abilities

Knowledge (most important issues) 1. Knowledge on agroecosystems and biological systems at the basis of production activities 2. knowledge of arable crop systems 3. knowledge of production chains for the most important arable crops 4. knowledge of botanical and biological traits of the most important arable crops 5. Knowledge of soil and climate needs and of cultivation areas of the most important arable crops 6. Knowledge of abiotic and biotic diseases of the most important arable crops 7. Knowledge of breeding activity and perspectives for the most important arable crops 8. Deepen knowledge cultivation technique for the most important arable crops 9. Knowledge of environmental and health implications of arable crop production 10. Knowledge of yield quality aspects for the most important arable crops 11. Knowledge of traditional and advanced analytical methods and techniques in agronomy 12. Knowledge of basic and applied research activity in agronomy 13. Knowledge of professional and project activities

Abilities (most important issues) 1. How to develop ideas and projects and how to manage technical and scientific projects on agronomical subjects 2. How to work in autonomy and responsabilità in a project 3. How to control cultivar traits of crops 4. How to control agro-ecosystems by adopting rational cultivation techniques 5. How to analyse and synthesize a subject 6. how to organize and plan 7. How to solve problem 8. Communication skills 9. Hoe to interact and implement with other professionals (ecologists, genetists, economists, etc.)

Behaviours (most important issues) 1. Consciousness of ethical and social implications of our own actions 2. Consciousness of environmental implications of our own actions 3. Consciousness of our own responsibilities 4. Consciousness of the need for a continuous update and itegration of our own technical and scientifical knowledge

Teaching period

The course should start on 23 february 2015, for possible changes see the Faculty website www.agr.unipg.it end 15 may 2015, excepted for possible changes on the provisional lectures timetable

Teaching calendar

The provisional timetable of lectures and practices will be presented at the beginning of the course and fixed in agreement with students

Lectures will be held at the Faculty of Agriculture (presumably in room 4), some practices will be held outdoor at the faculty of Agriculture or in the fields. For further details and updates see the Faculty website www.agr.unipg.it

Module: Vegetable production and floriculture

Lecturer

Francesco Tei

Type

Specific formative activities

Area

DISCIPLINE DELLA PRODUZIONE VEGETALE

Sector

AGR/02

ECTS

6

Implementation procedures

Conventional

Course content

Vegetable production in the world, EU and Italy. Features and classification of vegetables. Types of vegetable production. Floriculture: market and trends. Systems, methods and techniques of growing in vegetable production and floriculture. Mulching and protected cultivation. Transplant production. Soilless cultures (fundamentals). Peculiar aspects of agronomic management in vegetable crops and floriculture: crop rotation and production scheduling; irrigation, nutrition and fertilization; fertigation; plant growth and development in floriculture; harvesting. Post-harvest in vegetables and flowers: physiological aspects; storage; destination of vegetables; quality. Case studies in vegetable production and floriculture. Technical visits to farms, markets, industries for processing.

Supplement

This study units provides basic knowledge on technical aspects in vegetable production and floriculture

This study unit will allow students to grasp the basic principles of the cultivation techniques in vegetable production and floriculture with particular emphasis on the impact on the environment and health of operators and consumers in order to define sustainable production schemes.

Teaching period

see the website of the Dept of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences at www.agr.unipg.it

Teaching calendar

see the website of the Dept of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences at www.agr.unipg.it